IIHS "poor" rating on 'small overlap front' test crash

I was nearly involved in a frontal collision this weekend. The driver in the opposite lane had the sun in his face and my wife thought she saw him adjusting his visor. We were both going about 60 mph. I had enough shoulder to avoid the collision and the Prius responded beautifully. If there had been no room to maneuver, I had enough time and I have enough experience that I would have braked and hit him square with both body rails. It would be a unique set of circumstances that would cause me, personally, to do otherwise.

 

I'm so glad to hear you fared so well. I'm about to pull the trigger on my 1st Prius - a 2014 v 5! My only hesitance is the IIHS Offset rating but this helps me feel better! Be well!!

 

To keep things in perspective, remember when air bags, anti-lock brakes, and stability control started becoming standard on cars? All of a sudden, cars without them were not as safe. But that didn't cause everyone to start dumping their old auto's for new ones either, or avoid one that didn't have them initially. I think anyone shopping for a new vehicle should buy the safest car they can afford and like at the same time. The small overlap test is just one of the many tests new cars now have to endure. Once the IIHS sees most/all vehicles pass this test, they'll introduce another test most autos won't pass to prove their worth and viability, and try to push the safety envelope a bit further. The v is statistically one of the safest cars on the road and when I'm ready to buy another car years down the road, I'll look for all the safety I can get at a reasonable price.

 

I have read many, but not all the responses here and I seems most are missing the point as to why failing the test is significant. Sure the car has airbags, but the critical part of the test was when the car was hit off center (which to me seems way more likely than a perfect head on collision ) the steering column angled a little toward the passenger, MAKING THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG COMPLETELY MISS THE DRIVER, so, basically the airbag does nothing in this kind of accident). I'm willing to bet in most head on collisions between two cars , both cars swerve to avoid the other and they each catch the corners of the other car.

 

And where do you find this reported?

 

It doesn't need to be reported. You can see in the crash videos how the steering wheel get shoved out of position in small-offset collisions, resulting in the airbag not being positioned to absorb the forward motion of the test dummy.

 

And you don't think that would have been reported if it were the case?

 

Air, I should have said "it doesn't need to be reported since you can obviously see it". It's right there in the videos for you to see and observe unless you're sight impaired, and one of the many contributing factors for poor performance ratings for the small overlap test. My educated guess assumes this is a factor in why the IIHS would like to see improvement in this area. Am I missing something??

 

Vehicle details

Click on the vehicle details link above from iihs.
Then go to the tab for "small overlap crash"
And you'll see:
"The dummy’s head barely contacted the frontal airbag before sliding off the left side as the steering column moved 13 cm to the right. Additionally, the seat belt allowed excessive forward excursion of the dummy’s head and torso, permitting the head to hit the instrument panel. The side curtain airbag deployed too late during the crash, dropping onto the back of the head and pushing it outboard of the inflating curtain, leaving the dummy's head vulnerable to contact with side structure and outside objects. The side torso airbag deployed."

 

It is reported, see my post above. I guess that is also combined with slack in the seat belts and slow deployment of side airbags which allowed the dummy's head to hit the dash.
I wish I was wrong about this because I like the car, but it's on the iihs website.

 

Primarily a SRS timing issue (front/side sequencing). Also a function of test seat position (dummy impact delay). Unclear that circumstance applies in all cases other than the test.

 

The universal relevance to all but the tested seating position, but yeah.

 

Since Honda's success with corner crashes (compared to Toyota) have been completely overshadowed by the sefety of Tesla's Model S, shouldn't Honda now receive a poor mark as well?
It was just a few months ago here in So Cal (Laguna Canyon to be exact) that an Accord & a Tesla Model S had it out. The 2 drivers did a full on-head on collision ... each car doing about 50ish mph into each other. While both driver & occupant of the Honda were instantly killed, the Tesla driver walked away ... hardly even a scratch. It wasn't a new Accord ... so maybe that can lesson the blow to Honda's safety immage. But the point is, just because one car is light years ahead in safety in one fashion or another, it shouldn't lesson other vehicles prior rating(s) in safety. Otherwise, as in the above example, it would seem your testing agency is continually re-writing their own findings.
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I do believe it was an offset collision, not full on.

 

your right . . . I just looked it up. definately a corner crash of sorts - even tho the LA Times called the Tesla v Honda, 'head-on'.



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